Why is having an ergonomic chair for your office so important?
Ergonomic office chairs are your solution to feeling achy and tired after a long day at your desk. You’re not alone in this feeling. A study conducted in 2021 found that upper limb and neck problems accounted for the most reported musculoskeletal disorders, otherwise known as MSDs. MSDs can be triggered by many things and can be made worse by sitting for prolonged periods at a desk with bad posture.
Prolonged sitting, regardless of the position, can result in serious health implications and should be a cause for concern for those who spend over thirty hours sitting in the same position at their work desk. Some implications include pain in your muscles and joints, varying from odd twinges to constant agony, or effects on your mood and energy levels.
The primary stress spot in your body when you sit for long periods is your spine. Upper and lower spine pains are the most common types of physical pain that office-based employees experience, and it is often caused by slouching.
So, where do ergonomic office chairs come into this?
Ergonomic office chairs provide your body with the best support possible. Offering features that improve posture by supporting your entire back, shoulders, legs, pelvis, and neck. These features aren’t often focused on when designing average office chairs, which is what sets ergonomic office chairs apart.
If your chair lacks basic ergonomics, you will be able to lean forward or slouch, which can have a continuous negative impact on your health. Ergonomic office chairs follow the natural curvature of your spine and move with you as you work. We recommend our Ergonomic Elite Office Chairs if you’d like to feel the full potential of this feature.
A good ergonomic office chair is easily adjustable and includes sufficient adjustment options to support those of different heights, sizes, and needs. They offer fantastic office chair back support by being preventative and corrective to help resolve postural concerns and back pain.
Ergonomic office chairs help with efficiency
When you’re comfortable, your efficiency levels increase at work. This is why ergonomic office chairs are so beneficial to those working at desks for extended periods each day. Struggling with pain during your work hours can encourage a negative perception of work as a place that correlates with pain. Sitting in an office chair with little back support for too long has been proven to be as harmful as not getting enough exercise.
Productivity at work is essential, which is why office chair back support is vital. No calendar or schedule can keep you as productive as comfort can. This is why the idea of adjustability and versatility is ingrained in the production of ergonomic office chairs.
From an employer’s perspective, purchasing ergonomic office chairs for your staff portrays the message that you care about the well-being and health of your employees, and understand how bad posture can affect the quality of their work.
Ergonomic chairs and reduced back pain
Office chair back support is vital, as described above. You’ll be doing yourself many favours by allowing your office chair to support the natural curvature of your spine and fully engage with the backrest. This will encourage your core muscles to get to work, and you’ll find yourself experiencing far less awkward pain. If you’re on the taller side and finding it difficult to find an ergonomic office chair that works for you, we recommend our extra high chairs to provide you with equal support to your colleagues.
Reduced neck pain
Your core and back aren’t the only parts of your body that will be negatively affected by the use of average office chairs. Your neck and shoulders can be greatly affected by the absence of support for prolonged periods. The best way to combat this is to ensure that your ergonomic office chair includes a neck rest to help your muscles relax, increase blood flow and lessen tension.
Reduced hip pressure
Hip support is just as important as back support. Your hips are responsible for holding the weight in your body, and the firm flat seats of traditional chairs don’t help when it comes to exerting extra pressure on your hips. Ergonomic office chairs help to support your hips by providing suitable seat depth and angle to support your hips and allow your lower spine to revert to its natural position. Our custom office chairs help with this problem tremendously.
Armrests help support your weight
Adjustable armrests help to support the weight of your arms and reduce muscle strain in your shoulders. Armrests are always a benefit when it comes to using a keyboard or mouse, but they often collide with the edge of your desk. The importance of armrests is considered when designing ergonomic office chairs.
Ergonomic office chairs are adjustable
A fully adjustable office chair will help your posture astronomically, now and in the future. The key available adjustments are seat height, depth, seat recline, and slide, back height and recline, and adjustable armrests. This can also help with decreasing the risk of depression, heart disease, and poor blood circulation.
Long term use
As stated above, ergonomic office chairs are ideal for those working in offices for long periods. Here at Ergonomic Chairs, our chairs have each been physiotherapist-approved, extensively tested, and fully certified to guarantee optimal safety for users. Essentially, they’re designed and guaranteed for long-term use.
There is a common misconception that ergonomics only refers to healthcare, but ergonomic designs aim to adhere to more than health and safety. They also aspire to improve performance, satisfaction, and comfort in the workplace.
When choosing your ergonomic office chair, you should consider how long you will be using it. The longer you need to use your chair, the more adjustable options and features you should be thinking about.
Browse our range of ergonomic office chairs today to improve your posture, enhance your comfort and increase your productivity at your desk. Alternatively, you can build a bespoke chair based on your specific needs!